Students Walk Out to Protest Anti-LGBTQ Legislature
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Over 30 Waukee Northwest High School students walked out of school on Wednesday, March 1st to protest new anti-LGBTQ legislation.
Students across the state walked out of school to let legislators know they would not stand for the new bills. “I believe that Iowa legislation is very harmful to the queer community and we’re not going to be advocated for if we don’t advocate for ourselves,” explained GSA President Molly Campbell. Students peacefully left out the north side of the building and walked to Triumph Park. Once there, the students gave speeches, held signs and learned more about the bills.
Students walk out of school on Wednesday, March 1st to protest to anti-LGBTQ legislation in Iowa.
GSA Vice-President Naomi Pittman and GSA President Molly Campbell speak about the recent anti-LGBTQ legislation in Iowa during a walkout on March 1st, 2023.
Along the route to Triumph Park the group was met with a handful of adult supporters who held up various LGBTQ flags and cheered on the group from afar. Throughout the speeches, the group of adults clapped and cheered for the students willing to speak up.
Some students pointed out the irony of having to do this in their speeches. GSA Vice-President Naomi Pittman said, “We are too young to be forced to fight like this. Next block I am learning how to speak conversational German, and this block I am fighting for my rights to live.” Many others students talked about their experiences coming out and being a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Community members show their support for the walkout as they hold up pride flags along the path.
Students listen to speeches next to the Triumph Park sign to protest Anti-LGBTQ legislature.
Students participated in the walkout for various reasons. Sophomore James Fuller said, “I think that it’s unfair that people who aren’t here to experience oppression get to decide whether or not we get to experience legal oppression.”
The state-wide walkout was organized by IowaWTF and IowaQSA, two student organizations “fighting against discriminatory legislation,” according to their Instagram bios. You can learn more about WTF in an article from Business Editor Paige Finney here.
Junior Mallory Weber expressed, “It’s not fair to have to live in a state where people want to silence us and erase us. I’m gonna want to get married and I would really prefer [not to have to leave] Iowa because it’s the state I grew up in.” House File 508 was introduced on Tuesday, February 28th. It states, “No legal action, criminal or civil, shall be taken against citizens in Iowa for refusal or failure to recognize or participate in same-sex unions or ceremonies.” The bill also lists reasons why the federal Respect for Marriage Act has no grounds to change this.
This new legislation has been a priority for Republican lawmakers in Iowa, as 33 bills have been introduced, passed committees, or have been up for debate in the last 31 days.
Introduced bills include Senate File 159 which prohibits school instruction related to gender identity for kids in Kindergarten-8th grade. Another bill mentioned was House File 325, which states that only people 18+ years old are only allowed to explore gender identity. The file also allows any cisgender person to win a ‘conflict of accommodation’ against transgender people. Many other bills include barring schools and colleges from mentioning gender identity, restrictions on restroom usage, and banning gender-affirming care.
Students speak (above) and listen (below) to speeches at the walkout on March 1st, 2023.
More information about the various bills can be found on One Action Iowa’s website. Many bills are up for debate, so people are encouraged to reach out to their local legislators with their opinions. You can find your legislators here.
